Plate from the officers ' Life guards of the Semenovsky regiment

On the 1 St Guards infantry division, one of its officers in the early twentieth century said "in it, whatever the regiment, the Russian history: the Preobrazhensky, Semenovsky, Izmailovsky... Although officially it is recognized as never was, our first brigade of the first guards infantry divisions, regiments Preobrazhensky and Semenovsky was called, in memory of the founder, "Peter's brigade"". Both the oldest regiment led its history to 1683, when the Royal court for military amusements of the young Tsar came of the shelf of the so-called "amusing", are housed in two suburban villages of Transfiguration and Semenov. Already in 1700, the Preobrazhensky and Semenovsky received the official name "the life guards", the support of the throne and the king, which carried honorably through more than two centuries, until 1917. Even in the late nineteenth century, when the Guard is in the life of the state played a much smaller role than with Peter, the status of these regiments remained special. It was especially strong corporate spirit, team spike all the officers and soldiers of the regiment. To maintain the corporate spirit focused the whole culture of everyday life. One of the manifestations of corporate culture was the decoration of various items of applied life regimental regimental color – light blue (cornflower). Why Semenov regiment at its formation were assigned this color, not reliably established. Presumably, Peter gave his newly created "funny" colors of the uniforms already existed for the privileged of the 1st and 2nd of Elected soldiers regiments – green (nettle), and blue, or light blue (azure). Anyway, the light blue color was assigned to the Semenov as a distinctive regimental over two hundred years. In the early twentieth century blue ribbons adorned all the bouquets, preparing for regimental celebrations; light blue color is present in the decoration of the regimental ladies dresses; light blue off white camp tents; the regimental singers of the choir were dressed in special suits, in colors which were also attended by the blue color; blue ribbons were decorated with the officer even harness carts. Needless to say, that light blue color in abundance were also present in the decoration of the regimental officers ' meetings; the same colour was done and all ordered for collection utensils.

It is the combination of the monogram of Emperor Peter the Great with "Semenovsky" light blue color allows to assert with confidence that this plate belonged to the officer Assembly of the Life guards Semenov regiment. It should be noted also emphasized her modest finish: no jewelry, no rich ornament, only a thin border and the Imperial monogram in drawing, elegantly stylized XVIII century. "Butlers pantry the room was all crowded with oak cabinets with sabransky kitchenware — ordered it at the porcelain factory Kuznetsov, and on all items ranging from coffee cups to the largest of the plates was a blue border regimental colours and regimental monogram — two crossed the Latin "R", that is, "Petrus Primus" (from the book of officer in the Life Guards Semenov regiment Y. V. Makarov, "My service in the old Guard 1905 — 1917 gg"). True guards style, according to contemporaries, was "in any lack of chic; it was for some "Refine" gentleman". Very stylish and rare item, will be an ornament to any collection. The plate is in excellent condition, small chip does not affect its overall strength and can be easily restored. Recommended!